Worcester County, Massachusetts

County in Massachusetts, United States

County in Massachusetts

Worcester County

County

Worcester County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Massachusetts

Massachusetts's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 42°21′N 71°55′W﻿ / ﻿42.35°N 71.91°W﻿ / 42.35; -71.91
Country|  United States
State|  Massachusetts
Founded| April 2, 1731
Named after| Worcester, Massachusetts
Seat| Worcester
Largest city| Worcester
Area

• Total

| 1,579 sq mi (4,090 km2)
• Land| 1,511 sq mi (3,910 km2)
• Water| 68 sq mi (180 km2)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 862,111
• Density| 570.7/sq mi (220.3/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts| 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Mount Wachusett, the highest point in Worcester County

Worcester County (/ˈwʊstər/ WUUST-ər) is a county in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. At the 2020 census, the population was 862,111, making it the second-most populous county in Massachusetts. Being 1,510.6 square miles of land area, it is the largest county in Massachusetts by geographic area.[1] The largest city and traditional shire town is Worcester.[2] Worcester County is part of the Worcester, MA–CT metropolitan statistical area and the Boston-Worcester-Providence combined statistical area.

## History

[edit]

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|

Worcester County was formed from the eastern portion of colonial Hampshire County, the western portion of the original Middlesex County and the extreme western portion of the original Suffolk County.[3] When the government of Worcester County was established on April 2, 1731, Worcester was chosen as its shire town (later known as a county seat). From that date until the dissolution of the county government, it was the only county seat. Because of the size of the county, there were fifteen attempts over 140 years to split the county into two counties, but without success.

Initially, Lancaster was proposed as the seat of the northern county; later, Petersham was proposed once and Fitchburg was proposed repeatedly, most recently in 1903. Perhaps as a concession, in August 1884 the Worcester County Registry of Deeds was split in two, with the Worcester Northern registry placed in Fitchburg.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,579 square miles (4,090 km2), of which 1,511 square miles (3,910 km2) is land and 68 square miles (180 km2) (4.3%) is water.[4]

It is the largest county in Massachusetts by area. The county is larger geographically than the entire state of Rhode Island even including Rhode Island's water ocean limit boundaries. The county constitutes Central Massachusetts, separating the Greater Springfield area from the Greater Boston area. It stretches from the northern to the southern border of the state. The geographic center of Massachusetts is in Rutland.[5]

Worcester County is one of two Massachusetts counties that borders three different neighboring states; (New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island); the other being Berkshire County. They are also the only two counties to touch both the northern and southern state lines.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Cheshire County, New Hampshire \- north
* Hillsborough County, New Hampshire \- north/northeast
* Middlesex County \- east/northeast
* Norfolk County \- east/southeast
* Providence County, Rhode Island \- south/southeast
* Windham County, Connecticut \- south
* Tolland County, Connecticut \- south/southwest
* Hampden County \- west/southwest
* Hampshire County \- west
* Franklin County \- west/northwest

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (part)
* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1790| 56,764| | —
1800| 61,192| | 7.8%
1810| 64,910| | 6.1%
1820| 73,625| | 13.4%
1830| 84,355| | 14.6%
1840| 95,313| | 13.0%
1850| 130,789| | 37.2%
1860| 159,659| | 22.1%
1870| 192,716| | 20.7%
1880| 226,897| | 17.7%
1890| 280,787| | 23.8%
1900| 346,958| | 23.6%
1910| 399,657| | 15.2%
1920| 455,135| | 13.9%
1930| 491,242| | 7.9%
1940| 504,470| | 2.7%
1950| 546,401| | 8.3%
1960| 583,228| | 6.7%
1970| 637,969| | 9.4%
1980| 646,352| | 1.3%
1990| 709,705| | 9.8%
2000| 750,963| | 5.8%
2010| 798,552| | 6.3%
2020| 862,111| | 8.0%
2024 (est.)| 881,248| [6]| 2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[12]

As of the 2020 census, 862,111 people resided in Worcester County.[13]

### 2000 census

[edit]

At the 2000 census, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families in the county. The population density was 496 inhabitants per square mile (192/km2). There were 298,159 housing units at an average density of 197 per square mile (76/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.61% White, 2.73% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.62% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.93% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. 6.77%.[14] were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.9% were of Irish, 12.3% Italian, 11.7% French, 8.0% French Canadian, 8.0% English, 5.6% Polish and 5.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 85.1% spoke English, 6.1% Spanish and 1.9% French as their first language.

Of the 283,927 households, 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 26.20% of households were one person and 10.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median household income was $47,874 and the median family income was $58,394. Males had a median income of $42,261 versus $30,516 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,983. About 6.80% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

[edit]

At the 2010 census, there were 798,552 people, 303,080 households, and 202,602 families in the county.[15] The population density was 528.6 inhabitants per square mile (204.1/km2). There were 326,788 housing units at an average density of 216.3 per square mile (83.5/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 85.6% white, 4.2% black or African American, 4.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 3.6% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.4% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 22.2% were Irish, 15.1% were French as well as 6.7% French Canadians, 14.4% were Italian, 11.7% were English, 7.0% were Polish, 6.9% were German, and 3.2% were American.[17]

Of the 303,080 households, 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.2% were non-families, and 26.2% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 39.2 years.[15]

The median household income was $64,152 and the median family income was $79,121. Males had a median income of $56,880 versus $42,223 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,557. About 6.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Population density of Worcester County by census block (2020)[19]

### Demographic breakdown by town

[edit]

#### Income

[edit]

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective of the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.[20][21][22]

Rank  | Town  |  | Per capita
income  | Median
household
income  | Median
family
income  | Population  | Number of
households

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Southborough | Town  | $57,436  | $142,520  | $161,419  | 9,671  | 3,285
2  | Bolton | Town  | $52,282  | $137,120  | $149,120  | 4,827  | 1,583
3  | Boylston | Town  | $52,129  | $91,734  | $110,321  | 4,320  | 1,676
| Cordaville | CDP  | $51,707  | $151,836  | $175,217  | 2,558  | 845
4  | Harvard | Town  | $50,971  | $142,411  | $161,250  | 6,483  | 1,822
5  | Northborough | Town  | $47,953  | $104,420  | $122,592  | 14,180  | 5,114
6  | Westborough | Town  | $46,631  | $99,394  | $127,052  | 18,285  | 6,720
7  | Sterling | Town  | $44,089  | $102,270  | $117,240  | 7,768  | 2,811
8  | Princeton | Town  | $43,836  | $108,319  | $123,864  | 3,412  | 1,253
9  | Sutton | Town  | $43,275  | $107,500  | $116,288  | 8,908  | 3,128
10  | Upton | Town  | $43,252  | $110,083  | $132,703  | 7,364  | 2,588
11  | Berlin | Town  | $41,503  | $94,712  | $99,375  | 2,819  | 1,029
| Sturbridge | CDP  | $41,479  | $77,692  | $93,167  | 2,027  | 860
| Westborough | CDP  | $40,901  | $71,731  | $87,375  | 3,883  | 1,590
12  | Mendon | Town  | $40,523  | $93,245  | $108,173  | 5,787  | 2,055
13  | Hopedale | Town  | $40,422  | $98,220  | $104,398  | 5,909  | 2,275
| Barre | CDP  | $39,556  | $77,602  | $102,650  | 1,053  | 418
14  | Grafton | Town  | $39,479  | $89,950  | $109,729  | 17,472  | 6,376
| Northborough | CDP  | $39,266  | $89,033  | $108,636  | 6,226  | 2,381
| Hopedale | CDP  | $38,687  | $88,974  | $101,280  | 3,947  | 1,590
15  | Holden | Town  | $38,639  | $89,660  | $104,928  | 17,197  | 6,296
16  | Shrewsbury | Town  | $38,223  | $88,985  | $104,035  | 35,269  | 13,095
17  | Sturbridge | Town  | $37,480  | $79,044  | $98,693  | 9,133  | 3,655
18  | Paxton | Town  | $37,328  | $105,072  | $106,625  | 4,767  | 1,591
| Upton | CDP  | $37,247  | $92,676  | $120,962  | 2,867  | 1,099
19  | Douglas | Town  | $35,931  | $81,000  | $97,383  | 8,342  | 3,206
20  | Lunenburg | Town  | $35,868  | $83,265  | $95,000  | 10,034  | 3,728
| Massachusetts | State  | $35,051  | $65,981  | $83,371  | 6,512,227  | 2,522,409
| Lunenburg | CDP  | $34,770  | $73,750  | $79,750  | 1,217  | 470
21  | Lancaster | Town  | $34,374  | $87,962  | $101,196  | 7,896  | 2,426
22  | Uxbridge | Town  | $34,346  | $86,912  | $94,830  | 13,233  | 4,931
23  | Barre | Town  | $33,647  | $73,687  | $93,250  | 5,383  | 2,065
24  | Millbury | Town  | $33,467  | $77,883  | $86,855  | 13,250  | 5,166
25  | Auburn | Town  | $33,447  | $73,559  | $87,958  | 16,183  | 6,318
26  | Charlton | Town  | $33,250  | $91,653  | $98,789  | 12,827  | 4,306
27  | Blackstone | Town  | $32,988  | $73,586  | $87,752  | 9,028  | 3,472
| South Lancaster | CDP  | $32,942  | $70,625  | $81,167  | 1,988  | 766
28  | Ashburnham | Town  | $32,880  | $81,842  | $98,056  | 6,033  | 2,184
29  | Hubbardston | Town  | $32,618  | $83,333  | $95,203  | 4,341  | 1,538
30  | New Braintree | Town  | $32,568  | $88,571  | $93,458  | 1,124  | 380
31  | Milford | Town  | $32,219  | $64,860  | $80,127  | 27,925  | 10,493
32  | Royalston | Town  | $32,031  | $59,609  | $73,125  | 1,058  | 455
33  | Hardwick | Town  | $31,974  | $61,298  | $72,458  | 2,953  | 1,153
| Worcester County | County  | $31,470  | $65,772  | $81,342  | 794,981  | 299,089
34  | Westminster | Town  | $31,391  | $78,632  | $82,596  | 7,250  | 2,611
| East Brookfield | CDP  | $31,316  | $66,339  | $84,550  | 1,270  | 479
35  | Oakham | Town  | $31,237  | $79,700  | $83,676  | 1,822  | 680
36  | Rutland | Town  | $30,961  | $83,734  | $101,486  | 7,812  | 2,558
37  | Northbridge | Town  | $30,945  | $68,981  | $87,359  | 15,475  | 5,538
| Milford | CDP  | $30,678  | $60,840  | $72,927  | 25,194  | 9,494
38  | Clinton | Town  | $30,563  | $61,796  | $77,964  | 13,614  | 5,672
39  | Leicester | Town  | $30,301  | $72,471  | $80,288  | 10,934  | 3,858
| Fiskdale | CDP  | $30,230  | $75,655  | $89,595  | 2,907  | 1,133
40  | Oxford | Town  | $30,149  | $68,567  | $83,161  | 13,702  | 5,343
41  | North Brookfield | Town  | $30,106  | $64,009  | $76,690  | 4,686  | 1,931
42  | West Brookfield | Town  | $29,782  | $62,685  | $84,868  | 3,730  | 1,488
| East Douglas | CDP  | $29,760  | $73,372  | $74,828  | 2,835  | 1,146
43  | Spencer | Town  | $29,687  | $59,420  | $77,384  | 11,715  | 4,686
44  | East Brookfield | Town  | $29,416  | $62,350  | $82,750  | 2,058  | 737
45  | Brookfield | Town  | $29,392  | $62,390  | $77,993  | 3,363  | 1,353
46  | Millville | Town  | $29,049  | $73,426  | $84,000  | 3,154  | 1,060
| West Brookfield | CDP  | $28,704  | $56,625  | $95,556  | 1,853  | 705
47  | West Boylston | Town  | $28,547  | $73,600  | $89,681  | 7,660  | 2,308
48  | Leominster | City  | $28,445  | $58,585  | $73,704  | 40,884  | 16,095
49  | Phillipston | Town  | $28,273  | $74,043  | $75,234  | 1,894  | 648
| North Brookfield | CDP  | $28,163  | $50,346  | $64,181  | 2,035  | 912
50  | Warren | Town  | $28,112  | $51,188  | $69,873  | 5,106  | 2,067
| Oxford | CDP  | $27,990  | $67,054  | $79,832  | 6,566  | 2,418
| United States | Country  | $27,915  | $52,762  | $64,293  | 306,603,772  | 114,761,359
| South Ashburnham | CDP  | $27,758  | $76,932  | $77,386  | 1,104  | 345
51  | Petersham | Town  | $27,475  | $65,781  | $81,250  | 1,263  | 445
52  | Webster | Town  | $27,430  | $49,621  | $65,204  | 16,752  | 7,344
53  | Dudley | Town  | $27,319  | $72,500  | $78,920  | 11,276  | 3,780
| Whitinsville | CDP  | $27,135  | $58,846  | $62,314  | 6,894  | 2,424
| Spencer | CDP  | $27,059  | $47,183  | $66,932  | 5,392  | 2,417
54  | Templeton | Town  | $26,891  | $70,116  | $75,753  | 7,896  | 2,846
| Baldwinville | CDP  | $26,585  | $66,700  | $77,061  | 2,061  | 750
| Clinton | CDP  | $26,256  | $54,514  | $72,859  | 7,492  | 3,032
| Rutland | CDP  | $25,987  | $62,500  | $78,929  | 2,352  | 758
55  | Winchendon | Town  | $25,845  | $58,137  | $73,162  | 10,250  | 3,743
| Warren | CDP  | $25,245  | $41,200  | $71,722  | 1,408  | 564
56  | Gardner | City  | $24,974  | $48,108  | $63,413  | 20,323  | 8,037
57  | Worcester | City  | $24,544  | $45,846  | $55,927  | 180,519  | 70,248
58  | Athol | Town  | $24,384  | $50,866  | $59,095  | 11,576  | 4,551
| Webster | CDP  | $24,109  | $43,702  | $53,145  | 11,682  | 5,195
59  | Fitchburg | City  | $24,061  | $48,064  | $55,293  | 40,286  | 14,741
60  | Southbridge | City  | $21,923  | $43,965  | $52,577  | 16,800  | 6,548
| Winchendon | CDP  | $21,914  | $36,711  | $52,868  | 3,860  | 1,638
| Athol | CDP  | $21,553  | $47,330  | $52,139  | 7,867  | 3,150
| Devens | CDP  | $13,933  | $72,986  | $73,194  | 1,704  | 113

## Government and politics

[edit]

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2016)

|

State government

State Representative(s): | by community
State Senator(s): | by community
Governor's Councilor(s): | Paul M. DePalo (D)
Federal government
U.S. Representative(s): | by Congressional district
U.S. Senators: | Elizabeth Warren (D), Ed Markey (D)

Worcester County is one of the 8[23] (of the total of 14) Massachusetts counties that have had no county government or county commissioners since July 1, 1998, when county functions were assumed by state agencies at local option[clarification needed] following a change in state law.[24] The county has an elected county sheriff, county prosecutor, and court officials, administered under the state department of public safety. The state correctional system in the county is known as the Worcester County Jail or "House of Corrections" at West Boylston, and the Worcester County District courts (state administered) are housed at Worcester, Fitchburg, and other district courts within county boundaries.[24] The Worcester County district attorney is a county-wide position even though the district includes one town from a neighboring county. In Massachusetts, Sheriffs have more limited roles than most states and are responsible for corrections, court service and bailiffs and jail release programs.[24] County Sheriffs in Massachusetts are elected to six-year terms.[24] The Worcester County Sheriff is Lewis Evangelidis (R), and the Worcester County District Attorney is Joseph Early Jr. (D) (see the info-box for elected officials at county level). The Worcester County Conservation District has countywide boundaries.[25] The county has a regional planning commission.

Massachusetts law allows regional compacts, traditional counties and other governmental entities.[24] Traditional County governments in the state include Norfolk, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, and Plymouth Counties. Barnstable County, which is Cape Cod, functions as a modern regional county government. Suffolk County, which is mainly Boston, is under the Boston City Council. The Massachusetts General Laws describe this relationship of county government and the options for abolishing county governments and/or chartering regional governmental compacts in subchapter 34 B.[24] Four other new county compacts have been created by the state legislature in Hampshire, Franklin, Barnstable Counties, and a regional planning council level for Berkshire County. Thus 9 of 14 Counties have some form of county regional governments. Worcester County could exercise that option if it chooses, such as for public safety and/or preparedness due to its rather large geography, by a request to and a special act of the legislature, by local referendum, or by one of three mechanisms. See the references for the state statute, and the League of Women Voters link.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 17, 2018[26]

Party  | Number of voters  | Percentage
| Democratic | 142,910  | 26.10%
| Republican | 66,689  | 12.18%
| Unenrolled  | 329,232  | 60.12%
| Minor Parties  | 2,231  | 0.41%
Total  | 547,585  | 100%
United States presidential election results for Worcester County, Massachusetts[27] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 183,802  | 43.67%  | 225,680  | 53.63% | 11,359  | 2.70%
2020 | 171,683  | 39.74%  | 248,773  | 57.58% | 11,558  | 2.68%
2016 | 157,682  | 40.44%  | 198,778  | 50.98% | 33,491  | 8.59%
2012 | 163,390  | 44.27%  | 198,244  | 53.71% | 7,478  | 2.03%
2008 | 152,101  | 41.83%  | 202,107  | 55.59% | 9,386  | 2.58%
2004 | 144,094  | 42.30%  | 192,142  | 56.41% | 4,400  | 1.29%
2000 | 114,139  | 36.80%  | 173,769  | 56.03% | 22,240  | 7.17%
1996 | 87,021  | 29.84%  | 169,892  | 58.26% | 34,704  | 11.90%
1992 | 101,984  | 32.30%  | 138,122  | 43.74% | 75,676  | 23.96%
1988 | 148,365  | 50.59% | 141,485  | 48.25%  | 3,406  | 1.16%
1984 | 156,060  | 56.45% | 119,498  | 43.23%  | 882  | 0.32%
1980 | 120,100  | 43.11% | 117,326  | 42.12%  | 41,135  | 14.77%
1976 | 105,217  | 36.89%  | 172,320  | 60.41% | 7,708  | 2.70%
1972 | 127,560  | 46.70%  | 144,139  | 52.77% | 1,428  | 0.52%
1968 | 88,354  | 33.32%  | 168,437  | 63.52% | 8,388  | 3.16%
1964 | 61,388  | 22.60%  | 209,383  | 77.08% | 860  | 0.32%
1960 | 112,730  | 39.37%  | 173,103  | 60.46% | 500  | 0.17%
1956 | 163,401  | 60.10% | 107,889  | 39.68%  | 580  | 0.21%
1952 | 146,094  | 53.00% | 128,898  | 46.76%  | 645  | 0.23%
1948 | 106,757  | 43.62%  | 133,823  | 54.68% | 4,177  | 1.71%
1944 | 98,414  | 44.28%  | 123,440  | 55.54% | 404  | 0.18%
1940 | 100,468  | 42.92%  | 132,541  | 56.62% | 1,099  | 0.47%
1936 | 85,316  | 40.48%  | 114,136  | 54.15% | 11,312  | 5.37%
1932 | 88,535  | 49.08% | 87,586  | 48.55%  | 4,281  | 2.37%
1928 | 94,290  | 52.09% | 85,675  | 47.33%  | 1,045  | 0.58%
1924 | 89,679  | 67.14% | 31,171  | 23.34%  | 12,726  | 9.53%
1920 | 81,241  | 68.63% | 34,667  | 29.29%  | 2,464  | 2.08%
1916 | 32,541  | 52.76% | 27,540  | 44.65%  | 1,599  | 2.59%
1912 | 24,719  | 42.06% | 17,565  | 29.88%  | 16,492  | 28.06%
1908 | 34,394  | 62.06% | 16,803  | 30.32%  | 4,228  | 7.63%
1904 | 34,124  | 63.83% | 17,037  | 31.87%  | 2,300  | 4.30%
1900 | 32,412  | 62.84% | 17,148  | 33.24%  | 2,022  | 3.92%
1896 | 35,579  | 73.37% | 10,855  | 22.38%  | 2,059  | 4.25%
1892 | 27,130  | 54.84% | 20,797  | 42.04%  | 1,544  | 3.12%
1888 | 25,005  | 56.27% | 17,930  | 40.35%  | 1,502  | 3.38%
1884 | 21,661  | 55.32% | 12,712  | 32.47%  | 4,783  | 12.22%
1880 | 23,040  | 63.17% | 12,852  | 35.24%  | 583  | 1.60%
1876 | 22,054  | 60.43% | 14,319  | 39.23%  | 123  | 0.34%
1872 | 19,827  | 73.49% | 7,153  | 26.51%  | 0  | 0.00%
1868 | 19,860  | 76.77% | 6,009  | 23.23%  | 0  | 0.00%

## Communities

[edit]

The entire area of Worcester County is incorporated into cities and towns. The U.S. census also defines places inside one or more towns for statistical purposes. On this map, cities are shaded in gray.

### Cities

[edit]

* Fitchburg
* Gardner
* Leominster
* Southbridge
* Worcester (traditional county seat)

### Towns

[edit]

* Ashburnham
* Athol
* Auburn
* Barre
* Berlin
* Blackstone
* Bolton
* Boylston
* Brookfield
* Charlton
* Clinton
* Douglas
* Dudley
* East Brookfield
* Grafton
* Hardwick
* Harvard
* Holden
* Hopedale
* Hubbardston
* Lancaster
* Leicester
* Lunenburg
* Mendon
* Milford
* Millbury
* Millville
* New Braintree
* North Brookfield
* Northborough
* Northbridge
* Oakham
* Oxford
* Paxton
* Petersham
* Phillipston
* Princeton
* Royalston
* Rutland
* Shrewsbury
* Southborough
* Spencer
* Sterling
* Sturbridge
* Sutton
* Templeton
* Upton
* Uxbridge
* Warren
* Webster
* West Boylston
* West Brookfield
* Westborough
* Westminster
* Winchendon

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Athol
* Baldwinville
* Barre
* Brookfield
* Clinton
* Cordaville
* Devens
* East Brookfield
* East Douglas
* Fiskdale
* Hopedale
* Lunenburg
* Milford
* North Brookfield
* Northborough
* Oxford
* Petersham
* Rutland
* South Ashburnham
* South Lancaster
* Spencer
* Sturbridge
* Upton
* Warren
* Webster
* West Brookfield
* West Warren
* Westborough
* Whitinsville
* Winchendon

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Chapinville
* Cherry Valley
* East Millbury
* East Princeton
* Farnumsville (also called South Grafton)
* Fisherville
* Gilbertville
* Hardwick
* Ironstone (also known as South Uxbridge)
* Jefferson
* Leicester Center
* Linwood
* Manchuag
* Morningdale
* North Grafton
* North Uxbridge
* Oakdale
* Old Furnace
* Otter River
* Pitcherville
* Rochdale
* Rockdale
* Saundersville
* Spindleville
* Still River
* Stoneville
* West Sutton
* West Upton
* Whalom
* Wheelockville
* Wheelwright
* Winchendon Springs

## Ghost town

[edit]

* Dana, disincorporated due to the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir

## Notable people

[edit]

* Louisa May Alcott, novelist, daughter of Amos Alcott
* Johnny Appleseed, real name Jonathan Chapman
* Mike Barnicle, newspaper writer
* Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross
* Michael Beasley, NBA player, high school All-American; attended Notre Dame Preparatory School
* Robert Benchley, writer, theater critic, actor, humorist, and member of the Algonquin Round Table
* H. Jon Benjamin, actor and comedian
* Ezra T. Benson, Mormon pioneer, missionary, Quorum of Twelve, and Utah territorial legislator
* Ken Bouchard and Ron Bouchard, NASCAR drivers
* Luther Burbank, horticulturalist; developed russet potato used in French fries by McDonald's
* William Cullen Bryant, poet, journalist and editor of the New York Evening Post
* Effingham Capron, woolen and cotton mill scion who liberated slaves from the 1830s; led local, state and US anti slavery societies
* George M. Cohan, entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, director
* Robert Cormier, novelist and columnist
* Ron Darling, professional baseball pitcher, World Series player; local St. Johns High School star from Millbury, born in Honolulu
* Dorothea Dix, social reformer; activist
* Ralph Earl, famous portrait painter, artist of early America
* Fannie Farmer, cookbook author
* Abby Kelley Foster, radical abolitionist, women's suffrage
* Rich Gedman, professional baseball player, catcher for the Boston Red Sox
* Robert H. Goddard, father of American rocketry
* Ryan Gomes, NBA player; attended Notre Dame Preparatory School
* Gabby Hartnett, greatest baseball catcher before Johnny Bench
* Abbie Hoffman, activist
* Elias Howe, invented the sewing machine
* Elliott P. Joslin, pioneer diabetes researcher and clinician; founded Joslin Clinic
* Walker Lewis, black abolitionist, Masonic Grand Master of African Grand Lodge #1, Mormon elder
* Connie Mack, baseball great and long-time baseball manager
* Nora Marlowe, character actress; best known for role on The Waltons
* Agnes Moorehead, actress
* William T. G. Morton, contributor to modern anaesthesia
* Francis Patrick O'Connor, associate justice on Massachusetts Supreme Court
* Frank O'Hara, avant-garde poet and playwright
* Jeannine Oppewall, Hollywood producer, film art, four Academy Award nominations including Bridges of Madison County
* Joe Perry, songwriter and guitarist with Aerosmith; he was from Hopedale, and played his first gig at Mendon
* Amos Singletary, Anti-Federalist mill operator, justice for the peace, and state representative
* Brian Skerry, underwater photographer for National Geographic
* Steve Spagnuolo, current defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, former head coach of the St. Louis Rams, former defensive coordinator for the New York Giants
* Lysander Spooner, pamphleteer, lawyer, abolitionist and political theorist
* Lucy Stone, famous suffragist, women's rights advocate, abolitionist, public speaker, first woman college grad in Massachusetts; first woman to retain her own name after marriage
* Lydia Chapin Taft, America's first woman voter; first colonial woman who voted legally in America
* Earl Tupper, a New Hampshire native, who pioneered Tupperware in Farnumsville, South Grafton, in the 1940s[28]
* Hiram Walker, distillery founder
* Artemas Ward, major general of the American Revolution; the first Supreme Allied Commander of the Continental Army
* Daniel B. Wesson, co-founder of Smith & Wesson, a major firearm manufacturer
* Eli Whitney, invented the cotton gin
* Scott Young, NHL professional hockey player, two-time Stanley Cup champion, United States Olympian; attended St. Mark's and Boston University
* Geoffrey Zakarian, Iron Chef and restaurateur

## See also

[edit]

* Massachusetts portal

* List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income
* List of counties in Massachusetts
* Registry of Deeds (Massachusetts) Worcester County District Registry of Deeds
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County, Massachusetts

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2025. `{{cite web}}`: `|last=` has generic name (help)
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, embracing a comprehensive history of the county from its first settlement to the present time". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
5. ^ "MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information)". Mass.gov. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
12. ^ "2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
13. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Worcester County, Massachusetts". Retrieved January 14, 2023.
14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
16. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
17. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
18. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
19. ^ TIGER/Line Shapefile, 2020, State, Massachusetts, 2020 Census Block, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division, Spatial Data Collection and Products Branch (Point of Contact), retrieved May 22, 2025
20. ^ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
21. ^ "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
22. ^ "HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
23. ^ "General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 34B. Abolition of County Government". Massachusetts General Court. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
24. ^ a b c d e f Mass. Gen. L. c. 34B
25. ^ "Worcester County Conservation District". Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
26. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 17, 2018" (PDF). Massachusetts Elections Division. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
27. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
28. ^ Dempsey, James (March 4, 1992). "Many Changes Since Tupper Started Ware". Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2011.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Mary Babson Fuhrer, A Crisis of Community: The Trials and Transformation of a New England Town, 1815-1848. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2014.
* The Worcester County Directory, Boston, Mass.: Briggs & Co., 1878

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Worcester County, Massachusetts.

* Worcester County Sheriff
* Worcester County District Attorney's Office
* Worcester District Registry of Deeds
* League of Women Voters page on counties
* Map of cities and towns of Massachusetts
* Video guide to Worcester County (Worcester Love)
* Hampshire Council of Governments
* Worcester County 4 H Fair Archived March 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
* Worcester County Conservation District Archived March 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
* US Census Bureau map of cities, towns, Native American reservations, and census-designated places

Places adjacent to Worcester County, Massachusetts

| Franklin County | Cheshire County, New Hampshire | Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

|
|

|  |
Hampshire County |

Worcester County, Massachusetts

| Middlesex County
|  |
Hampden County | Windham County, Connecticut and Tolland County, Connecticut | Norfolk County and Providence County, Rhode Island

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States

County seat: Worcester

Cities|

* Fitchburg
* Gardner
* Leominster
* Southbridge
* Worcester

Towns|

* Ashburnham
* Athol
* Auburn
* Barre
* Berlin
* Blackstone
* Bolton
* Boylston
* Brookfield
* Charlton
* Clinton
* Douglas
* Dudley
* East Brookfield
* Grafton
* Hardwick
* Harvard
* Holden
* Hopedale
* Hubbardston
* Lancaster
* Leicester
* Lunenburg
* Mendon
* Milford
* Millbury
* Millville
* New Braintree
* North Brookfield
* Northborough
* Northbridge
* Oakham
* Oxford
* Paxton
* Petersham
* Phillipston
* Princeton
* Royalston
* Rutland
* Shrewsbury
* Southborough
* Spencer
* Sterling
* Sturbridge
* Sutton
* Templeton
* Upton
* Uxbridge
* Warren
* Webster
* West Boylston
* West Brookfield
* Westborough
* Westminster
* Winchendon

CDPs|

* Athol (CDP)
* Baldwinville
* Barre (CDP)
* Brookfield (CDP)
* Clinton (CDP)
* Cordaville
* Devens‡
* East Brookfield (CDP)
* East Douglas
* Fiskdale
* Hopedale (CDP)
* Lunenburg (CDP)
* Milford (CDP)
* North Brookfield (CDP)
* Northborough (CDP)
* Oxford (CDP)
* Petersham (CDP)
* Rutland (CDP)
* South Ashburnham
* South Lancaster
* Spencer (CDP)
* Sturbridge (CDP)
* Upton (CDP)
* Warren (CDP)
* Webster (CDP)
* West Brookfield (CDP)
* West Warren
* Westborough (CDP)
* Whitinsville
* Winchendon (CDP)

Other
villages|

* Gilbertville
* Ironstone
* Linwood
* North Uxbridge
* Old Furnace
* Still River
* Wheelockville
* Wheelwright

Ghost town|

* Dana

Indian reservations|

* Chaubunagungamaug Reservation
* Hassanamisco Reservation

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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42°21′N 71°55′W﻿ / ﻿42.35°N 71.91°W﻿ / 42.35; -71.91
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